...Quentin English's group, Quentin's Friends, founded in 2000, has been a haven
for many New Yorkers.
"People used to forward stuff to me because they knew that I knew a lot of people,"
says the founder, who moved here from Paris in 1998.
Quentin English and some
Quentin's Friends members at a
'Quentin's Anonymous Party'
To make his life easier, English set up an online community so that his extended
circle could communicate with one another more easily.
Since then, English's community has grown to thousands - nearly all of them New
Yorkers.
There's a catch: You can only become a "friend" if a current member recommends you.
"This may sound corny, but everyone in Quentin's Friends is really nice. There's
a real feeling of community," says English, who regularly hosts parties for his
members at downtown bars.
English makes sure his community doesn't lose its personal touch. Sure, it grows
by 10 to 20 members every day - and each party he throws usually generates at least
50 new members - but he's keeping an eye on quality control.
"The way to do this is to constantly remind people to only refer people who share
our core values." he says...